Ragtime Cafe — Restaurant in Hoover

Names can be deceiving! Cafe usually means: a small restaurant selling light meals and drinks; ie, coffeehouse.

Ragtime Cafe is a straight up bar that tries to pull off a sports theme, and oh yeah, they sell food.

As soon as we walked in the bar was standing room only! The hostess stand was empty and we had to wait on someone to greet us. The server that took us to our table took our drink order and never returned. Finally a second server came to take our drink order and see if we had any questions. Menu prices were over priced for "bar food."

We orders the combo appetizer and some fried dill pickle chips. We tried spending our time having a conversation while waiting on our food, but the crowd volume was very loud. The dining room was packed and too get out a paetron had to move his chair out of the way. (Something tells me it is against fire code to block the exit to the dining room.)

The food finally came after about a 30 min wait. (too long for appetizers) The combo appetizer included: Mozzarella sticks, loaded potato skins, wings and chicken fingers.

The plate was covered with the grease from the wings, which were overcooked and dripping with too much sauce. The "loaded" potato skins were dry, poorly seasoned and had a little cheese, some bacon bits and a pinch of green onion. The chicken fingers were large, chewy, stringy and overcooked. The "mozzarella" sticks were a frozen, pre-made, processed cheese product. (Please remove mozzarella from the name, because it doesn't include any actual mozzarella)

The marina sauce was vinegar, sugar and tomato paste. Just overall BAD! Ranch dressing was watery, honey mustard appeared to be homemade but had an overall tart mustard flavor. (no honey involved) BBQ sauce was very good, very familiar flavor. (ie: sweet baby rays!)

The fried dill pickles appeared to be made in house and not frozen. Thick dill pickle chips , lightly battered and served with a spicy cajun sauce. They were very good!

Diet Coke was excellent!!!

Two stars due to polite server, fried pickles and Diet Coke. If you into overpriced, poorly done bar food, overly loud atmosphere and forgotten fire codes, then this place might be for you. Just not for us!

Unfortunately, will NOT be back to...

Food was good! Staff great for the most part, only my second visit! Today a co-worker and I went here for lunch. I had ordered our food online to go. I stated to my co-worker I wonder if we can eat, here. We saw no signage saying otherwise if you ordered to go, it must be eaten away from the restaurant. We found a spot and sat down to eat. There was this particular hostess kept coming out, kind of looking at us. Some people came to sit and dine and after she seated them, she stood by them and said to us, to go orders are to go and next to we need to take the food to go. I waited until we finished our food and walked to the store next door. On the way back she was cleaning an area and I mentioned to her that it wasn't what she said it was how she said it, she stated what other way could I have said it. I stated to her, you could have said, hello, I hope you all enjoy your food, but for future, when orders are to go it must be eaten away and not as dine in. She became sarcastic and repeated me and walked off. I went in to speak with the manager on duty and two other people came out, but then the same lady came, stated V will come to handle, but she is going to finish her lunch first. Greatest part I was hoping to help her understand, customer service is still good to have in the world today and she failed miserably. Always remember when a person comes to your establishment, they chose you spot for that time. Be careful how we treat...

Great staff great food great drink specials. The bartenders are the best. Sue the daytime "manager" has been around for what seems like ages. I think she helped with installing the brick on the patio columns. A stickler for rules and with her iron fist she keeps order among the guests. Most people when they eat here started eating here when they were children and Sue has seen 6-7 generations of families come through the doors. If you want to see her in action stop by for a smoke on the patio and bring your bad attitude. She really cares about the place and the people who have been regulars for the last 65 years. Vy the bartender, although not having the longevity, will definitely make you tow the line and require that you have fun all the while providing great service, great drinks and a Viet-slang that will have you thinking "just smile and shake your head". Dex and Jimmy are the kings of the kitchen. Food out fast and those who have complained that food was slow after a 45 minute wait, well duh they're busy this isn't fast food it's great food so stop writing bad reviews for slow kitchen service. Get a job in the restaurant business for one week and then you will understand this restaurant is a well oiled machine, kinda like your granddad's Farm All tractor. Don't forget dessert and take something home for later or the next day's lunch. Wings double dipped...